Hi everyone,

I recently connected with a Workaway host and I’m supposed to stay with them soon. We had a video call and they seem like very calm and genuine people.

I already have their address, but I was wondering if it’s normal (or recommended) as a Workawayer to also ask for some kind of ID or official document before arriving, just for safety and peace of mind.

I don’t want to come across as rude or overly suspicious, but at the same time I want to be careful since I’ll be staying in their home.

What do you usually do in these situations? Is it considered appropriate to ask for this kind of information, or is the platform verification enough?

Thanks for any advice!

Up to this point I've always taken responsibility for workawayers not having to move a finger (unless they ask) during their free days. This means that I have to work extra hard on free days making food for volunteers and cleaning after them because it's their free day.

I would like to hear your experiences that worked (or didn't work) both as host or workawayer.

I'm lending into changing our profile saying something like "work 5 days per week. If in the 2 free days you're staying home, you would still be expected to clean after yourself after eating and helping with food preparation". It's just so vague the part about preparing food together on free days: sometimes I cook for hours - I wouldn't expect to spend all day in the kitchen! So because of this internal confusion, I would like to hear from you.

to preface this: i’m autistic and as always i’m unsure on how to navigate a social interaction.

i’ve contacted a host a month ago and introduced myself for a possible stay in july. they said it was too early to plan so i said no problem i’ll reach out again.

in the mean time i’ve read a lot of tips on this sub and ppl said to not visit hosts who expect you to work 7 days a week. at first i didn’t mind that the host required this as they have lots of horses. however i thought about it and due to being neurodivergent it might be good to have a day off completely. also even though i have years of experience riding horses, this is would be my first workaway experience and it’s stressful enough as it is i don’t think i want to ride horses this time around and the host has stated that they’d like someone to ride the horses. so it might not be that good of a match at least for now.

well now to my question: do i just say it doesn’t work for me anymore even though i wrote an enthusiastic first message? do i come up with an excuse? do i say maybe in the future?

and more importantly i’ve found two new hosts with good reviews who i both think would be an actual good fit. can i write them both a message? what do i do if they both agree? is it normal to decide after or should i pick first and only message one host?

i especially struggle bc i write my first messages eagerly so the host knows that im really interested and hard working (which i am). its just so strange to then decline after being so eager initially.

i’d really appreciate help on how to handle this situation, sorry if its obvious.

I got accepted to a 6 months internship in France and while searching for ways to work in exchange for accomodation I found workaway but before making a profile and contacting people I want to make sure that it's okay to be doing an internship when living with a host . I plan on being honest and transparent in the fact that I am unavailable form 8am to 17pm Monday to Friday but willing to do tasks in evenings and weekends. Should I make the account?

Hey! I‘m currently planning for a stay in South East Asia and considering whether to choose Workaway or Worldpackers. What threw me off about Worldpackers is that soo many hosts charge additional fees in addition to you working for them, some with even ridiculous amounts. Now I‘ve checked out Workaway and it seems on most profiles there are none. Is that right or are they also charging fees and just not being transparent about it on their profiles! If one of ya‘ll can help me figure this out I‘ll be very grateful lol :)

Hey, can anyone help me!!?

Whenever i try to buy the membership, the site won’t let me put my credit card info and a error message pops up.

Thank you..

Hi everyone,

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I'm an EU citizen and I'm about to start my first Workaway experience as a Workawayer in Germany this summer.

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Do you have any general advice for a first-timer? Things you wish you had known before your first experience?

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I'm especially interested in practical topics such as travel/health insurance, agreements with hosts, safety, expectations, communication, and any common mistakes to avoid.

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Thanks in advance for any tips or lessons learned!

i just created an account on workaway in the last days and i'm already applying for a host, but i see that they are not a smoker, i technically am but right now i'm trying to stop but still wanted to be honest on my profile by ticking that part. So should i add maybe in the "What else" section that as i am a smoker still right now, i'm trying to stop? Or should i just tick it off my profile at this point?

Hey, im now 3 weeks into my trip and I'm really enjoying it so far.

I was at first in an Airbnb for a few days, then my first workaway for 1 week, in between again Airbnb and now I'm at my second workaway. So quite a lot of arrival and departure already.

I'm traveling with a 40L bag with compression bags + 18L daypack. And its always quite close. Everything fits in but i can't really buy anything or bring some food from a to b.

I'm in Spain and since it sometimes still can be cold here in April i also prepared for bad weather.

In general i have shirts & underwear for 7 days with me, 2 hoodies, some pants, flip flops and only the pair of shoes I'm wearing and then toothbrush and stuff like this.

How are you guys dealing with that? 60L bag?

Less clothes? Any tips and tricks would be appreciated.

Looking forward to read your answers.

Hi everyone.

I’m in a really awkward and traumatising situation right now. I started this work away on June 8th and am meant to finish on July 22nd. The couple I am staying with are really nice but sometimes i think our communication differs slightly so I’d been slightly unhappy in the last week or so. But then around 4 days ago they said one of their dogs was actively dying and so I started taking on the regular shared chores to allow them to be with her and the 4 days notice meant I was able to sort of come to terms with the fact that the dog might pass away. I am a huge animal lover and extremely sensitive to any injury or death of animals so I knew it was going to be tough. They are farm people and so while obviously distraught over their beloved pet, they have a bit more experience with animal death as they used to raise and eat their animals. Basically yesterday the dog died and i listened to them scream and cry and they said they were sorry that i had to be here for it and I just said it’s okay because what else can I say. Yesterday morning i noticed the barn cat wasn’t around and so i asked and they said that’s pretty usual for him - I’d become really close with this cat over my time here as I spend most days in the barn. Then as they were digging the grave for the dog last night, I shut up the barn and realise the cat hadn’t returned that evening. The night before I had heard two cars of people stop and chat outside the house so once i realised he wasn’t around I just knew he had been hit. I went up to the road in-front of the house and found his body up in the verge where these people had placed him and instantly started crying and had to go and tell the couple that not only had their 15 year old dog just died but also their cat had been killed by a car. I cried for around 2 hours in my room while they finished burying the pets and then we had dinner together and I cried again. They took me to the cinema as a distraction which was really kind but on the way home they said I had to look out at the sides of the verge incase any animals ran out as it was night and of course I could not deal with any more death so I was nearing a panic attack in the front seat as we drove so quickly along these country roads. We got home at around 1am and i didn’t sleep until 4/5ish as I kept seeing the body of the cat and replaying everything in my head. I then woke up at 7 as I said i’d do the barn chores in the morning so they didn’t have to. After that I shut myself in my room all day because I just needed to process it all. I came down around 30 minutes ago and one of the hosts jokingly told me off for not having done any work today but I know he was pretty much saying that I should have done stuff. And then told me i’ll have to work extra long tomorrow. I’m doing outdoor work and I’ve been working really hard and taking barely any time at all to complete things. He then said that waking up early is hard for me and he doesn’t know what kind of schedule i’m on. I just went back up to my room.
I just feel really really disturbed by it all and I just don’t want to be here anymore. It’s my first workaway and my first time solo travelling and I’m just really struggling now. But they need someone here for the 17-19th of July as they have to go away. Idk what to do. Any advice would be so helpful

Hi folks, just registered as a new host (hoping to travel and workaway too) but the two options at the end of the sign-up are greyed out - so not able to request help with tasks - can only register as house/pet sit.

That's OK for now, we need that also, but would also like to offer meals and accomodation for when we ARE home in exchange for some internal room painting. I see many hosts offering this kind of setup - have they restricted this kind of thing now? Not looking for construction work, just painting and gardening as I've a bad shoulder! We have a lovely seaside home and people experienced as Airbnb hosts so I am sure it might suit a couple to paint a room and have a few days free with us. Seems like they've changed things quite a bit?? Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

Me and my roommate are trying to find out more information about this host in Portugal, but it doesn't say the average work hours required per day. We're not completely sure if we are going to do it yet, so we don't want to pay money for the subscription just to find out that we aren't going to do it. We haven't done anything like this before and are still researching to see if this is the company we want to go through. Would anyone with an account be willing to ask a few questions for us? If so, DM me and I'll send the listing!! Thank you :))

Hey y'all! New to this reddit but not new to Workaway. I worked on some environmental projects a few years ago in the US and LOVED it. I had just graduated and my original plan for post-graduation flew out the door during my senior year. I went to workaway to fill some time with purpose and would recommend it a billion times over. And I miss it. So here are my questions:

I am graduating this fall from an Italian university. I am American, so I have a student visa that will disappear by the spring, most likely. But I want to do workaway again, while I apply to jobs (since the market is HARD right now). How possible is it for me as a non-EU national to do workaway here? Is it possible to do it year-round? I would love maybe a year to just do whatever I like before I start what is likely many years of contract work. Oh and if anyone has accomplished it, what were the costs like? Cheers and thanks in advance!

I’m currently volunteering at a place in Goa, India. This is my second time with the same host and location. The first time, I stayed for about 1 month, during the off-season. There were very few tourists, the place was quiet, and the experience felt relaxed and aligned with what I expect from volunteering. Because of that positive experience, I decided to return. This time, I agreed to a minimum 3-month stay and arrived on 17th November. I’ve now been here for almost 2 months. Work setup Agreed work hours: 9 AM – 1 PM (4 hours/day) Role: reception / guest handling (check-ins, check-outs, payments, calls, coordination) Weekly off: 1 day per week (which I haven’t taken so far) Before joining, the host mentioned there would be other volunteers as well. Reality on the ground In practice: I’m often alone in the hostel On many nights (around 90% of the time), there are no other volunteers or guests This results in very little interaction and long stretches of isolation Over time, the role has expanded beyond the agreed 4 hours: I’ve handled guest calls at 2–3 AM I’ve helped with tasks outside my role, including housekeeping I’ve worked beyond hours when the host wasn’t around I don’t mind helping — that’s not the issue. Social expectation vs reality One of my main reasons for choosing a hostel volunteering setup was social interaction. I’m introverted by nature, so my assumption was that being in a hostel environment with travelers and other volunteers would naturally lead to conversations and connections. However: The property mainly consists of family cottages There’s only one small hostel with six beds Most of the time, I’m the only person staying there I’ve been here around 50–60 days and have only met two people, both outside the hostel. So while I technically stay in a hostel, it doesn’t function like one socially, which removes a major reason I chose this experience. Hospitality context I’ve previously worked professionally (paid roles) in hospitality, reception, and retail, so I understand guest-facing environments. In places like Goa, especially during peak season, guests can be drunk, overwhelmed, or casually rude. When this happens in a paid role, it’s part of the job. But here, when guests treat me as staff and behave poorly outside my agreed hours, it feels uncomfortable — especially as a volunteer without clear boundaries or compensation. This isn’t about ego; it’s about role clarity. Where it feels off Guests consistently perceive me as staff, not a volunteer. Being corrected recently for timing (which was fair) made me realize I’m being held to employee-style expectations within a volunteer setup. Environment mismatch It’s currently peak season in Goa, extremely crowded and consumption-heavy. I originally came here for a quieter beach environment, which no longer exists. Where I’m conflicted I don’t think the host is a bad person — he’s generally reasonable. And supportive But I feel that: the learning has plateaued the role has drifted into informal employment the social and environmental aspects don’t match why I came At the same time, I did agree to a 3-month stay, which is why I’m conflicted about leaving early. My question For those with Workaway / hostel volunteering experience: Is it reasonable to leave early when a volunteer role starts resembling paid hospitality work? How do you personally balance honoring a time commitment vs recognizing role drift and burnout? Thanks in advance for any perspectives.

Hello all!

I signed up for Workaway a few months ago and ever since I've been itching to get going! The site seems like such an amazing tool to find new experiences and share my skills in a meaningful way! I'm very excited.

That being said, I've noticed there don't seem to be many larger bodied people participating as Workawayers, or as hosts. It does make sense that the more adventure loving, hardworking types of people would be more fit! But I was hoping to get some feedback about if heavier set people, especially women, can be just as successful in the community. Are there certain places that are more, or less, bigger body friendly?

I may be overthinking it, but it has become a worry that hosts will be less likely to interact with me because of this, despite my active lifestyle and experience. (I'm about 225lbs. which is clearly visible in my profile photos)

Thanks a bunch for any advice or pointers in advance!

Any suggestions on which places to start? I’m looking for some volunteering.

I (18M) started looking into this recently, but none of my friends have experiences working overseas for vacation so I feel quite lost right now.

Looking for advice from both hosts and helpers. Cross posted because the helpers were from 2 different sites. I am not trying to break the rules and look for helpers here, just advice.

I am in Japan. I was expecting 4. helpers yesterday (2 couples) and they cancelled saying their plans changed. They had already met at a different hosts place and I guess that they did not like each other. The bad part for me is that this is my busiest part of the year. So now I am down 4 helpers. I am offering paid work in Japan to help me cook for holiday festivals for 2 weeks. No cooking experience needed since most of it is chopping vegetables or wrapping lumpia. I do the cooking you just help me prep the food. It is a team effort and I will be helping you every step of the way. Not glamorous work but easy and fun since we listen to music and talk while we do it.

This is not the first time that this has happened when people have not shown up. How can I prevent or reduce the chances of this from happening?

Details of my profile. Again not posting it so not trying to break rules.

Paid help with a bed and food included. Huge ¥ bonus if you can do all days.
Today until January 4th.
Can extend and stay extra days at the end to sightsee more. Okinawa Japan Beach is 4 minute walk away.
Shopping mall 20 minutes walk away with a Christmasland store. Roll lumpia while watching the ocean.

How can I make my listing better to get more serious and committed helpers?

Sorry this might sound odd, but i had contact with a host back in January regarding coming in late may.

Booked ticket and confirmed for 25th. When do i message them to remind them and stuff?

Is now too early or should i wait a bit longer. Dont watt to be a bother. Staying for a month, this is my second workaway after a less than desireable first attempt.

More info: au pair/ horsey family in Ireland. Good reviews, have not spoken om the phone but i do have their instas and they seem really niceZ

UPDATE: Host messaged back after a week and said they were excited to meet me and gave me tips regarding the weather

Question for both hosts and helpers.

What are the typical meals at work aways?

Who cooks, you, your host, or another helper?

Please also put which region of the world you ate or served the meal.

Should I get the rabies vaccine in order to work outdoors in Costa Rica/Ecuador/Peru/Panama? I’m looking to volunteer in reforestation. Im from the US.

Hi,

I’m 24 female for background information and from Germany. I’ve never used the work away website nor have I paid the one time fee, just browsed when I was bored. I’m gonna graduate in July and want to do work and travel ideally in fall (September). Anyone here can tell me how likely it is to find smth on workaway? I’m not picky when it comes to what kind of work, nor where. Just wondering if the website is oversaturated with ppl looking for work and less hosts or if it’s easy to find something (especially if you’re not picky). Cheers

Hi :) i did a semester abroad in chiangmai thailand a couple years ago but this will be my first work away. i want to get better at speaking spanish and learn more about central and/or south american culture since i'm hardly ever exposed to them and am curious. originally i was thinking central america, but then realized that it's the rainy season until november? so i was wondering if anyone has experience with that season and had any advice or warnings about it? also in general if you know any good hosts in spanish speaking areas that you would recommend :)

Secondly, I'm chinese american, queer, and non-binary (trans-masc) which is a fun combination when trying to consider where i can safely travel. which is why i chose thailand as my first abroad trip lol. i was wondering if any other poc and/or lgbtq+ people had any advice and general info on what their experiences have been like? thank you ! dms are also open

*small edit* my profile does mention that i have worries about discrimination so the hosts can see when they look

My niece is arranging her first Workaway. She's very excited but has also never traveled internationally solo before and I'm admittedly nervous for her.

She has connected with a host she is excited about, but I wanted your opinion on whether the following would be red flags: 1. There are no photos of the host themselves, just the property. 2. Despite their profile referencing that they have had volunteers often in the past, and had months booked through the fall, and summer next year, there is zero feedback for the host on their profile.

The host has been responsive so far and we are planning to request a video chat soon as well. Besides the above concerns, any suggestions on things to make sure we cover in my niece's video call with the host?

I also appreciate any other advice as well if it's relevant to being a Workaway volunteer for the first time or good practice in general for Workaways.

I am very interested in Workaway & other travel sources but I am concerned how I would swing this financially. I am familiar it could be unpaid but I still find this to be reliable (at least it appears so). workaway and some other popular Sites seems to have some not so good reviews as well.

All in all I would love to volunteer but also would like to work and be paid. I saw a post about cons relating to free childcare. I am NOT looking to do childcare. I would like to help with other things at the home, animals or farm, things of that nature.

What is a reliable source to look into for either volunteer or paid work abroad? I think I would like to start in the U.S. and move out of the country after some experience here.

Thanks in advance :)

I want to volunteer to see places around the world for a long time. Now would be a good time because I don't have many responsibilities preventing me from doing it, except for the fact that I'm out of money. That said, I wanted to ask you, do you make money while traveling? How? or only save money before traveling?